A dog which was stuffed inside a flour sack and with a plastic bag around its head was found by Animal Welfare Department officials this afternoon.

At around 1:30pm, the department was called and informed that their assistance was required in the outskirts of Tal-Ħandaq, Qormi, where an abandoned dog has been identified.

The female dog was found to be alive and was immediately taken to the St Francis Animal Hospital in Ta' Qali. Its condition was described to be grave but stable.

In a statement, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Animal Rights said that it condemned this act of animal cruelty without any reservations, and announced that it has notified the police, who have launched their investigations into the incident.

The parliamentary secretariat also appealed to anyone who might have any information on this case to come forward, either by contacting the police or by calling the Animal Welfare Department on Freephone 1717.